"Q: Do you take offense at the term "conspiracy theorist"? --- A: "I welcome being called a conspiracy theorist as this exposes the intellectual bankruptcy of the person applying it and provides me with an opportunity to point out that intellectual bankruptcy." Barrie Zwicker

Monday, November 19, 2007

I am returning to this blog after a very long absence. Why? Because I consider it my duty to my country. I don't make that sort of a clichéd patriotic statement very often since it has been so horribly abused and perverted by the immature adults and criminals of this nation. That should tell you just how strongly I feel on this matter.

I hope you won't get bored with this long essay, which is, in essence, still in rough-draft form. I've even thrown in an excellent music video as a bonus.

There Is Still TimeThree or four years ago, when I first heard Rep. Ron Paul speak to a nearly empty U.S. Congressional chamber, I never dreamed he would come to enjoy the amount of success that he has experienced in the past five months, an amazing degree of success that has occurred in spite of his having been initially ignored, then lied about and finally demonized by the corporate-owned mainstream media. He truly inspired me three or four years ago, but I must say that the millions of Americans who have been inspired by him in recent months is far more than I ever dared to dream [Update 11/23/2007: Here is an amazing example of that inspiration, which was created by students at the University of Nevada at Reno.]. I am afraid to say it out loud, but I once again believe there is a small chance to save our nation from the evil people.

But it will require all honest Americans to make a major effort, as the Founding Fathers expected us to do.

So, Without Further Adieu...If you are a registered democrat or independent, please do the unthinkable: Temporarily (or permanently, if Mr. Paul purges the evil from the party) register as a republican so we can help Ron Paul defeat his fascist warmonger opponents in the republican primaries and the democratic warmongers in the general election. That's what I'm going to do -- and I am far from being alone in making the switch --, even though I never dreamed I would return to that party again. Why? Because Ron Paul is the only hope we have left to end both of our illegal wars and to prevent or -- God forbid -- end a third one in Iran. In fact, he is determined to bring our troops home from all 130 nations in which they are presently stationed (how many of you knew that we had troops in that many countries?). Equally as importantly, he is the only candidate who will keep our nation from sliding into a permanent dictatorship (unless Bush and Cheney cancel the elections, which they almost did in 2004).

No, Ron Paul is not your typical republican, not by a long shot.

Horrified Democrats, Please Hear Me Out!

Democrats, please don't worry about the democratic primaries. Even if they weren't already decided (which they clearly are), every candidate is basically alike, except for maybe Dennis Kucinich, and he doesn't stand a chance. No matter which democratic candidate wins the primaries, he or she will be someone who is completely owned by the corporate establishment, especially the three "top-tier" candidates.

At the very least, think of it this way: By registering temporarily as a republican and voting for Ron Paul in the primaries, you will be helping to ensure that none of the evil republicans will make it to the general election. And, by then, I believe you will have seen the light and will gladly vote for Ron Paul in the general election, too.

Well and Succinctly SaidA reader nicknamed "Zenken" says it perfectly:

Who'd have thought that a mainstream Republican with a classically conservative message could end up sounding so liberal that he is accused of being a radical, and by others as "certifiably crazy"? I guess this illustrates just how far the neo-cons have dragged this country into the bottomless pit. After hearing Ron Paul's views, several of which I do not agree with, I am now left with no other choice than to become a registered Republican so I can vote for him. As president, he will probably do a lot of things that will piss me off, but at least I'll be pissed off in a free country.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

But Isn't Ron Paul a Long Shot, Too?

Right now, many of you are probably thinking that Ron Paul stands just as little chance of winning the primaries and the general election as Dennis Kucinich. Well, if you think that way, then you've been fooled by the lying mainstream media. For example, Ron Paul has won 21 of the 41 republican straw polls that have been held around the country in the past five months, including in such diverse places as Alabama, California, Wyoming (Cheney country!) and New York City (Giuliani country)! Check out that link and see the entire list for yourself. Furthermore, he has come in near the top in many of the remaining straw polls.

As you study all those victories, ask yourself, "How come the mainstream media hasn't told us about them?" Even Keith Obermann, the only true defender of the Constitution in the mainstream media, has never even uttered Ron Paul's name, even though they are clearly kindred spirits in many ways. It is almost a certainty that Olbermann's bosses are preventing him from mentioning Paul's name.

Still in Doubt about Ron Paul's Chances?Then compare this tiny set of maps of independent meet-up groups that are being organized in support of the republican and democratic candidates. Ron Paul's map leaves the other nine candidates' maps in the dust, waaaaaayyyyyyyyyy, waaaaayyyyyyy, waaaaayyyyyy in the dust. You have to see his map to believe it. It seems that millions of Americans are learning about Ron Paul in spite of the corrupt mainstream media.

In fact, in an independent fund raiser that was held in a single 24-hour time period on November 5, Mr. Paul received a record $4.2 million in donations over the internet. In this quarter alone, he has already raised about $8 million, mostly in small amounts from regular citizens. Does that sound like someone who doesn't have a chance? There will be another 24-hour fund raiser on December 16, which is the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. From the sounds of it, it may possibly dwarf the November 5, fund raiser (I hope). [UPDATE 11/21/2007: It appears that I am right. Click here for details.]

What Europeans Think: Music Video Tribute

By electing Ron Paul, we also have a chance to redeem ourselves in the eyes of the world. Look at this excellent and very inspiring music video that was put together by a European and dedicated to the millions of American supporters of Ron Paul (there is even a European Ron Paul meet-up map in the video).

Not since the days of John F. Kennedy have the citizens of other nations been this inspired by a U.S. presidential candidate. Why are Europeans, among others, so excited about republican Ron Paul? You would think no citizen of any other country would EVER trust another republican. The fact that they are this dedicated to Ron Paul should tell you something about the man. But I think this History News Network editorial explains very well why non-Americans like him so much: Ron Paul: The Only Presidential Candidate to Challenge the American Empire.

[UPDATE 11/21/2007: I should amend the above, for it appears that some citizens of the United States have not been this inspired since the days of JFK either. For instance, Racer wrote the following comment at TruthDig: "I am 65, and the last president I voted for was JFK, and Ron Paul gives me the same hope that JFK did. I will be proud to vote for Ron Paul. This 2008 election is a make it or brake it for our constitutional republic, and this country needs a president with a plan, not a story teller, or a member of CFR global elite. Just one more thing. John Zogby is a member of CFR, of the Zogby polls."]

Finally, if you still have any last lingering doubts about trusting Ron Paul, just read some of his own words. As you read, please ask yourself if these are the words of a modern republican/neocon fascist? I certainly don't think so. I'm none of those things, but I've been shouting most of these quotes all of my life. The first four are more reminiscent of Gandhi than of a republican of the 21st century:

Ron Paul Says

1.) "The most important element of a free society, where individual rights are held in the highest esteem, is the rejection of the initiation of violence."

2.) "All initiation of force is a violation of someone else's rights, whether initiated by an individual or the state..., even if it's supposed to be for the benefit of another individual or group of individuals."

3.) "Legitimate use of violence can only be that which is required in self-defense."

4.) "Setting a good example is a far better way to spread ideals than through force of arms."

5.) "Freedom is not defined by safety. Freedom is defined by the ability of citizens to live without government interference. Government cannot create a world without risks, nor would we really wish to live in such a fictional place. Only a totalitarian society would even claim absolute safety as a worthy ideal, because it would require total state control over its citizens’ lives. Liberty has meaning only if we still believe in it when terrible things happen and a false government security blanket beckons."

6.) "Let it not be said that no one cared, that no one objected once it’s realized that our liberties and wealth are in jeopardy. A few have, and others will continue to do so, but too many—both in and out of government—close their eyes to the issue of personal liberty..."

7.) "Monitoring the transactions of every American in order to catch those few who are involved in some sort of illegal activity turns one of the great bulwarks of our liberty, the presumption of innocence, on its head. The federal government has no right to treat all Americans as criminals by spying on their relationship with their doctors, employers, or bankers. In fact, criminal law enforcement is reserved to the state and local governments by the Constitution's Tenth Amendment."

8.) "No matter how well intentioned, an authoritarian government always abuses its powers."

9.) "You wanna get rid of drug crime in this country? Fine, let's just get rid of all the drug laws."

10.) "Failure of government programs prompts more determined efforts, while the loss of liberty is ignored or rationalized away. Whether it’s the war against poverty, drugs, terrorism, or the current Hitler of the day, an appeal to patriotism is used to convince the people that a little sacrifice of liberty, here and there, is a small price to pay. The results, though, are frightening and will soon become even more so."

11.) "Justifying conscription to promote the cause of liberty is one of the most bizarre notions ever conceived by man! Forced servitude, with the risk of death and serious injury as a price to live free, makes no sense."

12.) "Our country's founders cherished liberty, not democracy."

13.) "The moral and constitutional obligations of our representatives in Washington are to protect our liberty, not coddle the world, precipitating no-win wars, while bringing bankruptcy and economic turmoil to our people."

14.) "One thing is clear: The Founding Fathers never intended a nation where citizens pay nearly half of everything they earn to government."

15.) "I am absolutely opposed to a national ID card. This is a total contradiction of what a free society is all about. The purpose of government is to protect the secrecy and the privacy of all individuals, not the secrecy of government. We don't need a national ID card."

16.) "I am just absolutely convinced that the best formula for giving us peace and preserving the American way of life is freedom, limited government, and minding our own business overseas."

17.) "I believe that when we overdo our military aggressiveness, it actually weakens our national defense. I mean, we stood up to the Soviets. They had 40,000 nuclear weapons. Now we're fretting day in and day and night about third-world countries that have no army, navy or air force."

18.) "War is never economically beneficial except for those in position to profit from war expenditures."

19.) "Cliches about supporting the troops are designed to distract from failed policies, policies promoted by powerful special interests that benefit from war, anything to steer the discussion away from the real reasons the war in Iraq will not end anytime soon."